Philosophies

Our last few papers have allowed us to better understand who we are. We should feel more comfortable and confident in our identity and with our place in the world that surrounds us.

Now, we are going to focus on how we have acquired some of the beliefs we have–specifically the prejudices we hold. You will choose one prejudice and trace its development, drop by drop, as it came to exist in your life.

Let me offer a few precautionary comments. First, don’t close yourself off by claiming, “I’m not prejudiced.” This is a false statement. No one is truly 100% objective, and our subjective selves are riddled with preconceptions, half-truths, and biases. By taking a close, hard look at yourself and your background, you will find some form of prejudice; we all have them. Second, be careful that you do not simply define your prejudice; you want to analyze it. This means looking carefully at the beliefs and ideologies that we live by everyday. Consider what philosophy mandates these actionsand, more specifically, how this philosophy was developed. Third, although you will be including personal experiences to demonstrate and support your ideas, use these carefully. Remember, examples serve to exemplify a point . . . make sure you determine what your point is and how your experiences will further illuminate it.

We will be asking some difficult questions of ourselves on this assignment. Don’t expect it to be entirely comfortable; if done correctly, it will be, at times, disconcerting. It will demand an open mind to the different views we will see and a willingness to acknowledge that all of us are influenced by our surroundings.

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